RAW Turns Glass & Cardboard into Hope for Abandoned Animals

Recycling for Animal Welfare (RAW), a registered non-profit organisation, is calling on the public to help sustain the rescue work they’ve been carrying out – alongside years of dedicated recycling – entirely out of pocket.

What began with a tiny, near-death puppy curled on a doorstep has grown into one of the East Rand’s most profound grassroots rescue efforts.

Paul: The Dog Who Changed Everything

Eight years ago, a freezing, motionless puppy was discovered outside the Marlands home of Judy Knox (54) and her partner John Ancill (60). The pup, later named Paul, was critically ill. He was rushed to the vet, who warned that arriving even an hour later would have been too late.

Paul’s survival was a long, brutal fight. He battled Parvo, tick bite fever, gastro, and weeks of collapse and recovery. Judy and John stayed beside him through every drip and every scare until, against all odds, he pulled through.

By the time he was healthy enough to be adopted, it was clear he already belonged exactly where he was. Paul became RAW’s very first official rescue – the tiny survivor whose fight shaped the soul of the organisation.

On 18 July 2025, Paul passed away from liver cancer after eight deeply loved years. His loss was devastating, but his impact continues in every animal RAW helps today.

How RAW Began Turning Rubbish Into Rescue Work

In 2017, Judy and John set out to build a self-sustaining way to fund emergency vet care for animals in need. They didn’t want to rely on donations. They wanted to earn the money themselves.

So, after their full-time jobs and every Saturday, they began collecting glass and cardboard across the East Rand -Germiston, Boksburg, Benoni, Edenvale, Kempton Park, and anywhere help was needed. Their small Hyundai i10 became a weekly mountain of recyclables.

Their first load earned just R50, but it proved that even the smallest start can grow into something powerful. With the help of a local vet and their loyal team – Monique (46) and Patrick (77), affectionately known as G-Dad – RAW has now recycled more than 750 tons of glass and 75 tons of cardboard. Every cent goes directly into sterilisations, vaccinations, surgeries, emergency treatment, and rehabilitation.

Why RAW Needs Public Support for the First Time

Despite their relentless work, recycling brings in very little:

• 50c per kg of glass
• R1.20 per kg of cardboard
• Two to three weeks of collecting results in around R1,200

Animals arrive weekly – abandoned, injured, frightened or critically ill – and the vet bills have now climbed past R50,000. RAW’s account is currently on hold.

For the first time since they began rescuing animals, Judy and John have launched a BackaBuddy crowdfunding campaign to bridge the gap between what recycling can cover and what animals urgently need.

This isn’t replacing their hard-earned efforts. They will still be out collecting after work and every Saturday, just as they always have. The campaign simply adds a buffer so no animal has to be turned away.

So far, almost R10,000 has been donated by 18 supporters – a heartfelt start, but far from what’s needed to reopen the vet account and stabilise their rescue operations.

Honouring Paul: RAW Launches a Monthly Giving Campaign

The BackaBuddy initiative is dedicated to Paul — the little dog whose survival story built RAW’s mission. Judy and John hope that monthly supporters will carry Paul’s legacy forward by helping other animals fight for the second chance he was given.

How the Public Can Help

RAW is urging the community to stand with them in honour of the puppy who started everything.

Support can be offered by:

• Making a once-off donation
• Becoming a monthly supporter, which provides steady, reliable funding so RAW never has to refuse an animal in crisis

“Every rand goes straight to the animals — their treatment, their healing, their safety,” Judy says. “We will never stop recycling. This campaign simply helps us bridge the gap so we can keep saving lives, just like we saved Paul.”

Support RAW HERE.

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